The LM boys’ varsity basketball season didn’t begin with fireworks. It began with doubts. The Aces 1-3 opening left many questioning the outlook on the rest of the season. Some held doubts and wrote them off early. The players did not. Instead, they leaned on their experience and trusted that the season would look very different come February.
The shift occurred during winter break, when the team traveled up to State College and played two games across two days. They won both games, including a statement victory over a solid State College High School team, where the Aces managed to hit sixteen three-pointers. Finn Pulsifer ’26 called this trip a turning point, not just because of what happened in the games, but also because of how the team grew and bonded together. LM returned home more connected, and from there, they looked like a different group.
The Aces now sit with a 14-9 overall record; 9-8 in conference play, and are heading into the final stretch of the season. A 0.563 win percentage puts them in fifth place in the toughest leagues in District 1 Class 6A. Their record shows consistent growth throughout the season rather than instant success. Bereket Darsenie ’26 attributes most of their improvement to be from a changing attitude among the players. He stated that one of the main reasons they lost games earlier in the season is because they fell apart as a team when it mattered the most, “Whether it was complaining to the referee about a bad foul call, shouting at a teammate for shooting a bad three… or keeping your head down when you make a mistake, the game found a way to slip from our grasp.” The Aces will hope to continue to improve in this aspect as they finish league play and move into districts.
One of the most defining moments so far came in an early-season matchup against Haverford High School. The Aces entered the game with a losing record, 2-3, still recovering from a shaky start. The first half proved to be just as unconvincing, with key players getting in foul trouble, giving up the ball, and unable to run their plays properly. Due to this, they entered halftime only with a one-point lead against a beatable opponent. What followed set the tone for the rest of the season. The Aces locked down on defense, giving up less than 25 second-half points. Meanwhile, Kyle Parrish ’27, Israel Ingram ’28, and Will Yard ’27 combined for 36 points, allowing the Aces to come out on top by 13 points. It was a clear example of a team finding its edge.
LM’s identity and style of play begins with a fast-paced offense. The Aces play quickly, move the ball, and comfortably shoot threes. They’re just as effective in defense. Parrish described their efforts on the other end of the court as “feisty,” always trying to slow their opponent’s offense. That powerful combination has fueled several decisive wins and blowouts this season, including a 71–39 beatdown of Harriton High School, a 75–45 win against Ridley High School, and a 65–36 win against Strath Haven High School.
According to Darsenie, their ability to limit three-point opportunities for their opponents is the backbone of their defense, which he believes to be the main reason for their success this season. That balance has allowed the team to stay in control of the game even if their offense goes cold.
Leadership has also played a key role in the success of the team this season. Leaders such as Pulsifer and Parrish have set a tone of communication and accountability. Parrish emphasized how the team spends a lot of time together after practices and games, talking about what went well and what the team can collectively do to improve. However, the team hasn’t always been this tight-knit. Disagreements and arguments were common early in the season, but those issues have faded over time and given way to a bond that Parrish describes as “practically unbreakable.”
Certain players have also adapted to specific roles within the team. Darsenie provides instant offense and energy off the bench, and in a meeting with an assistant coach, was compared to the likeness of Vinnie Johnson, a former NBA player known for doing just that. Meanwhile, Arjay Miller ’26 is known by his teammates as a player who will leave his heart on the court. His comfortability with diving for loose balls, taking charges, and locking down on stops always gives his teammates confidence to play next to him.
With three-time Hall-of-Fame-inductee Gregg Downer in his 36th season coaching, expectations never fade. Still, this year’s team has forged their own path, responded to doubt and loss, and found their identity individually and as a team. Currently positioned for postseason play, at the district and ideally state level, LM boys’ basketball looks to continue to improve their attitude, chemistry and performances to make it as far as possible.
*All records are updated as of 2/11/26*
